A dramatic split has shaken the Eurovision Song Contest, as four nations have confirmed they will withdraw from the 2026 event following the decision to allow Israel to compete.
A rift that has been growing for years reached a breaking point on 28 November, when Spain and Slovenia announced they would not take part in Eurovision 2026 if Israel were allowed to compete. The split deepened on 4 December, as the two nations along with Ireland and the Netherlands confirmed their withdrawal shortly after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the contest, upheld Israel's eligibility despite ongoing concerns about the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza. Several broadcasters had pushed for Israel's exclusion, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the conflict required the EBU to reconsider its stance.
